Provenance of the Late Permian Xuanwei Formation in the Upper Yangtze Block: Constraints from the Sedimentary Record and Tectonic Implications

Xuanwei Formation is composed of mudstone, siltstone, and sandstone, with local conglomerate. However, its provenance and tectonic setting have been scarcely studied. In this paper, we use sedimentology, electron probe microanalysis(EPMA), and detrital zircon dating to investigate its source area and depositional tectonic setting. The facies assemblages indicate that it formed in alluvial fan and fluvial river sedimentary environments. The strata thicknesses and facies distribution indicate that the sediment supply was from the west. The results of EPMA show that chromian spinels within the sediments are characterized by high Cr# and varying Mg#. Discrimination plots suggest that these spinels were sourced from large igneous province(LIP) magmatic rocks. The laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(LA-ICP-MS) U–Pb chronology of detrital zircons suggests that the sediments were derived from intermediate–acid igneous rocks dating back to 251–260? Ma. We could, therefore, conclude that the provenance of the Xuanwei Formation is from Emeishan basalt and synchronous felsic igneous rocks, which is consistent with the composition of the detrital framework. The detrital zircon dates also suggest that felsic magmatism occurred during the Late Permian, not after the eruption of the Emeishan basalt. Based on the sedimentary successions and provenance analysis, the tectonic setting for Xuanwei Formation deposition was a volcanic rifted margin.     

重矿物在沉积物源分析中的应用 ——以内蒙古西部额济纳旗及邻区石炭系—二叠系为例

分析旧司阶—吴家坪阶额济纳旗及其邻区主要地层中的碎屑岩重矿物组合特征,结合区域地质特征、碎屑岩岩石学特征、碎屑锆石测年资料、古水流方向、沉积体系特征等,阐述了石炭系—二叠系沉积物的物源体系。重矿物组合特征显示,研究区北部黑鹰山-额济纳旗坳陷和南部的柳园-芒汗超克坳陷的碎屑岩重矿物组合类型和含量都有差异,指示它们来自不同的物源区;碎屑锆石测年资料显示,绿园-拐子湖凹陷的埋汗哈达剖面埋汗哈达组碎屑锆石的年龄可分为2类：436Ma±13Ma和1467Ma±110Ma,古水流方向也显示有北部物源区存在,说明沉积物源受敦煌－阿拉善－狼山古陆和马鬃山-拐子湖隆起带的双重作用;北部坳陷沉积物源来自马鬃山-拐子湖隆起带。     

Unravelling the protracted U-Pb zircon geochronological record of high to ultrahigh temperature metamorphic rocks: Implications for provenance investigations

The assessment of detrital zircon age records is a key method in basin analysis, but it is prone to several biases that may compromise accurate sedimentary provenance investigations. High to ultrahigh temperature (HT-UHT) metamorphism (especially if T > 850 °C) is herein presented as a natural cause of bias in provenance studies based on U-Pb detrital zircon ages, since zircon from rocks submitted to these extreme and often prolonged conditions frequently yield protracted, apparently concordant, geochronological records. Such age spreading can result from disturbance of the primary U-Pb zircon system, likewise from (re)crystallization processes during multiple and/or prolonged metamorphic events. In this contribution, available geochronological data on Archean, Neoproterozoic and Palaeozoic HT-UHT metamorphic rocks, acquired by different techniques (SIMS and LA-ICP-MS) and showing distinct compositions, are reassessed to demonstrate HT-UHT metamorphism may result in modes and age distributions of unclear geological meaning. As a consequence, it may induce misinterpretations on U-Pb detrital zircon provenance analyses, particularly in sedimentary rocks metamorphosed under such extreme temperature conditions. To evaluate the presence of HT-UHT metamorphism-related bias in the detrital zircon record, we suggest a workflow for data acquisition and interpretation, combining a multi-proxy approach with: (i) in situ U-Pb dating coupled with Hf analyses to retrieve the isotopic composition of the sources, and (ii) the integration of a petrochronological investigation to typify fingerprints of the HT-UHT metamorphic event. The proposed workflow is validated in the investigation of one theoretical and one natural example allowing a better characterization of the sedimentary sources, maximum depositional ages, and the tectonic setting of the basin. Our workflow allows to the appraisal of biases imposed by HT-UHT metamorphism and resulting disturbances in the U-Pb detrital zircon record, particularly for sedimentary rocks that underwent HT-UHT metamorphism and, finally, suggests ways to overcome these issues.     

重矿物在沉积物源分析中的应用——以内蒙古西部额济纳旗及邻区石炭系—二叠系为例

分析旧司阶—吴家坪阶额济纳旗及其邻区主要地层中的碎屑岩重矿物组合特征,结合区域地质特征、碎屑岩岩石学特征、碎屑锆石测年资料、古水流方向、沉积体系特征等,阐述了石炭系—二叠系沉积物的物源体系。重矿物组合特征显示,研究区北部黑鹰山-额济纳旗坳陷和南部的柳园-芒汗超克坳陷的碎屑岩重矿物组合类型和含量都有差异,指示它们来自不同的物源区;碎屑锆石测年资料显示,绿园-拐子湖凹陷的埋汗哈达剖面埋汗哈达组碎屑锆石的年龄可分为2类：436Ma±13Ma和1467Ma±110Ma,古水流方向也显示有北部物源区存在,说明沉积物源受敦煌-阿拉善-狼山古陆和马鬃山-拐子湖隆起带的双重作用;北部坳陷沉积物源来自马鬃山-拐子湖隆起带。     

Zircon growth in very low grade metasedimentary rocks: evidence for zirconium mobility at ~250°C

Zircon outgrowths are present on detrital zircon grains in many very low to low-grade metasedimentary rocks worldwide, ranging in age from mid-Archaean to Palaeozoic. The outgrowths comprise minute (typically <3 μm) crystals that form an irregular fringe on detrital zircon grains, and in a few cases, on diagenetic xenotime outgrowths. Textural relationships indicate that while zircon growth postdates diagenetic xenotime precipitation, it precedes or is synchronous with metamorphic xenotime formation. Unlike xenotime, zircon outgrowths are absent in unmetamorphosed sedimentary rocks, and only appear in prehnite-pumpellyite facies rocks, suggesting that zircon growth commences at temperatures of ∼250°C. The greater abundance of zircon outgrowths in shales than in to other sedimentary rocks may relate to higher halogen concentrations, which have been linked to enhanced zirconium mobility in hydrothermal systems. The growth of zircon in metasedimentary rocks indicates that zirconium was transported in aqueous fluids, possibly as fluorine complexes, during very low-grade metamorphism.     

The evolution of zircon during low‐P partial melting of metapelitic rocks: theoretical predictions and a case study from Mt Stafford,central Australia

Palaeoproterozoic metasedimentary migmatite reflects the highest temperature parts of a regional aureole at Mt Stafford, central Australia, comprising rocks that experienced 500–800 °C at ≈3 kbar. Whole‐rock major element concentrations are correlated with Zr content, psammitic compositions having nearly twice the Zr content of pelitic compositions. Zirconium is concentrated in mesosome compared with leucosome. Zircon is largely detrital, mostly lacking any overgrowth contemporary with migmatite formation. Comparatively small proportions of micro‐zircon (<10 μm) in sub‐solidus rocks are mostly hosted by quartz and plagioclase. Much higher proportions (three to five times) of micro‐zircon in migmatite are hosted by prograde K‐feldspar, cordierite and biotite. T–X and P–T NCKFMASHTZr pseudosections constructed using thermocalc model the distribution of Zr between solid and silicate liquid phases. Half of the detrital zircon (~100 ppm Zr) is predicted to be dissolved into silicate liquid at ≈800 °C and all dissolved by 850 °C, if all zircon is involved in the equilibration volume. Melt segregation at relatively low temperature is predicted to enrich the residuum in Zr, consistent with the observed distribution of Zr between mesosome and leucosome. The limited development of metamorphic zircon rims or overgrowths at Mt Stafford is explained by three concurrent processes: (i) Zr liberated during prograde metamorphism formed micro‐zircon, rather than following the prediction that Zr will partition into silicate liquid; (ii) some detrital zircon was probably armoured by other rock‐forming minerals, reducing Zr content in the effective bulk rock composition; and (iii) small proportions of melt loss during migmatization removed Zr that otherwise would have been available to form metamorphic rims.     

扬子陆块西缘寒武系砂岩的物源分析：对古地理位置重建和构造背景的指示

扬子陆块西缘寒武系主要为一套碎屑岩- 碳酸盐岩的岩石组合,前人研究多认为形成于相对稳定的克拉通盆地。但同时期出现的大陆岩浆作用显然与前期认定的克拉通盆地性质不符,需要借助扬子西缘的物质来源探讨构造背景。基于野外露头等资料,本文通过对扬子陆块西缘会泽和会东附近寒武系3件砂岩样品进行重矿物分析、电气石电子探针和碎屑锆石U- Pb测年分析,确定扬子西缘寒武纪沉积物的源区;并结合沉积序列等综合探讨扬子陆块西缘寒武纪的构造背景。沉积序列表明,扬子西缘寒武系沧浪铺组、西王庙组和二道水组主要由砂岩和白云岩等组成,沉积环境为滨岸—潮坪。细—粗砂岩碎屑颗粒为次棱角状—次圆状,分选较差;碎屑组分主要为石英,岩屑几乎全部为燧石,长石含量较少。测试分析结果表明：重矿物分析指示扬子西缘寒武系砂岩重矿物主要由锆石、赤—褐铁矿、电气石、钛铁矿、金红石、磷灰石等组成,重矿物组合指示岩浆岩为其主要母岩;电气石电子探针分析结果表明,物源主要来自于贫锂花岗岩和变砂岩、变泥岩;碎屑锆石测年分析表明物源区母岩主要为983~540 Ma岩浆岩。碎屑锆石年龄对比等综合分析表明,寒武系沉积物部分源自康滇古陆983~708 Ma的岩浆岩和变沉积岩,部分源自冈瓦纳大陆东非造山带663~540 Ma的岩石,物源区岩石经历再旋回产物作用。扬子西缘寒武系的沉积序列、碎屑锆石年龄谱图和碎屑组成等特征综合分析表明,扬子陆块西缘寒武系形成于前陆盆地。     

U‐Pb Detrital Zircon Analysis – Results of an Inter‐laboratory Comparison

Inter‐laboratory comparison of laser ablation ICP‐MS and SIMS U‐Pb dating of synthetic detrital zircon samples provides an insight into the state‐of‐the art of sedimentary provenance studies. Here, we report results obtained from ten laboratories that routinely perform this type of work. The achieved level of bias was mostly within ± 2% relative to the ID‐TIMS U‐Pb ages of zircons in the detrital sample, and the variation is likely to be attributed to variable Pb/U elemental fractionation due to zircon matrix differences between the samples and the reference materials used for standardisation. It has been determined that ~ 5% age difference between adjacent age peaks is currently at the limit of what can be routinely resolved by the in situ dating of detrital zircon samples. Precision of individual zircon age determination mostly reflects the data reduction and procedures of measurement uncertainty propagation, and it is largely independent of the instrumentation, analytical technique and reference samples used for standardisation. All laboratories showed a bias towards selection of larger zircon grains for analysis. The experiment confirms the previously published estimates of the minimum number of grains that have to be analysed in order to detect minor zircon age populations in detrital samples.     

山东青岛地区灵山岛早白垩世碎屑岩锆石U-Pb-Hf同位素特征及其大地构造意义

苏鲁造山带东缘的灵山岛上发育有早白垩世碎屑岩,目前人们对其沉积的精确时代、成因机制和大地构造环境仍然存在着广泛的争议.利用LA-ICP-MS的方法对灵山岛上两套碎屑岩进行了锆石U-Pb测年,并对特征年龄谱中的代表性碎屑锆石进行了Lu-Hf同位素分析.结果表明:（1）碎屑锆石U-Pb测年结果显示,莱阳群法家茔组和青山群八亩地组下部的碎屑岩沉积时代分别为127±3 Ma和128±4 Ma,表明两套碎屑岩都是早白垩世中晚期的沉积产物;（2）灵山岛上两套碎屑岩具有完全相似的年龄谱以及锆石Hf同位素组成,表明发育软沉积变形的粉砂岩、泥岩和上覆的含砾粗砂岩具有相似的物源,并且源区组成较为单一,主要以亲华北的胶北地体为主,其次的物源区为苏鲁造山带;（3）胶莱盆地下白垩统莱阳群和灵山岛下白垩统莱阳群的碎屑锆石年龄谱对比表明,灵山岛上的莱阳群碎屑岩明显不同于胶莱盆地的莱阳群,暗示在早白垩世时,灵山岛上的两套碎屑岩可能受到区域断裂的控制,沉积于一个相对独立的盆地.综合结果表明,灵山岛地区莱阳群法家茔组可能沉积于断陷湖盆的萎缩期,早期的沉积以湖相为主,晚期主要以河流相为主,在此期间遭受到了强烈的火山地震作用,诱发了下部的湖相的砂泥岩发生大规模的滑塌和软沉积变形.      

Zoned Zircon from Eclogite Lenses in Marbles from the Dabie-Sulu UHP Terrane, China： A Clear Record of Ultra-deep Subduction and Fast Exhumation

Eclogite lenses in marbles from the Dabie-Sulu ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) terrane are deeply subducted meta-sedimentary rocks. Zircons in these rocks have been used to constrain the ages of prograde and UHP metamorphism during subduction, and later retrograde metamorphism during exhumation. Inherited (detrital) and metamorphic zircons were distinguished on the basis of transmitted light microscopy, cathodoluminescence (CL) imaging, trace element contents and mineral inclusions. The distribution of mineral inclusions combined with CL imaging of the metamorphic zircon make it possible to relate zircon zones (domains) to different metamorphic stages. Domain 1 consists of rounded, oblong and spindly cores with dark-luminescent images, and contains quartz eclogite facies mineral inclusion assemblages, indicating formation under high-pressure (HP) metamorphic conditions of T = 571-668℃and P = 1.7-2.02 GPa. Domain 2 always surrounds domain 1 or occurs as rounded and spindly cores with white-luminescent images. It contains coesite edogite facies mineral inclusion assemblages, indicating formation under UHP metamorphic conditions of T = 782-849℃and P > 5.5 GPa. Domain 3, with gray-luminescent images, always surrounds domain 2 and occurs as the outermost zircon rim. It is characterized by low-pressure mineral inclusion assemblages, which are related to regional amphibolite facies retrograde metamorphism of T = 600-710℃and P = 0.7-1.2 GPa. The three metamorphic zircon domains have distinct ages; sample H1 from the Dabie terrane yielded SHRIMP ages of 245±4 Ma for domain 1, 235±3 Ma for domain 2 and 215±6 Ma for domain 3, whereas sample H2 from the Sulu terrane yielded similar ages of 244±4 Ma, 233±4 Ma and 214±5 Ma for Domains 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The mean ages of these zones suggest that subduction to UHP depths took place over 10-11 Ma and exhumation of the rocks occurred over a period of 19-20 Ma. Thus, subduction from～55 km to > 160 km deep mantle depth took place at rates of approximately 9.5-10.5 km/Ma and exhumation from depths >160 km to the base of the crust at～30 km occurred at approximately 6.5 km/Ma. We propose a model for these rocks involving deep subduction of continental margin lithosphere followed by ultrafast exhumation driven by buoyancy forces after break-off of the UHP slab deep within the mantle.     

Detrital Zircon U‐Pb Ages and Geochemistry of the Silurian to Permian Sedimentary Rocks in Central Inner Mongolia,China: Implications for Closure of the Paleo‐Asian Ocean

The Solonker suture zone has long been considered to mark the location of the final disappearance of the PaleoAsian Ocean in the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB). However, the time of final suturing is still controversial with two main different proposals of late Permian to early Triassic, and late Devonian. This study reports integrated wholerock geochemistry and LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb ages of sedimentary rocks from the Silurian Xuniwusu Formation, the Devonian Xilingol Complex and the Permian Zhesi Formation in the Hegenshan-Xilinhot-Linxi area in central Inner Mongolia, China. The depositional environment, provenance and tectonic setting of the Silurian-Devonian and the Permian sediments are compared to constrain the tectonic evolution of the Solonker suture zone and its neighboring zones. The protoliths of the silty slates from the Xuniwusu Formation in the Baolidao zone belong to wacke and were derived from felsic igneous rocks with steady-state weathering, poor sorting and compositional immaturity. The protoliths of metasedimentary rocks from the Xilingol Complex were wackes and litharenites and were sourced from predominantly felsic igneous rocks with variable weathering conditions and moderate sorting. The Xuniwusu Formation and Xilingol Complex samples both have two groups of detrital zircon that peak at ca. 0.9–1.0 Ga and ca. 420–440 Ma, with maximum deposition ages of late Silurian and middle Devonian age, respectively. Considering the ca. 484–383 Ma volcanic arc in the Baolidao zone, the Xuxiniwu Formation represents an oceanic trench sediment and is covered by the sedimentary rocks in the Xilingol Complex that represents a continental slope sediment in front of the arc. The middle Permian Zhesi Formation metasandstones were derived from predominantly felsic igneous rocks and are texturally immature with very low degrees of rounding and sorting, indicating short transport and rapid burial. The Zhesi Formation in the Hegenshan zone has a main zircon age peak of 302 Ma and a subordinate peak of 423 Ma and was deposited in a back-arc basin with an early marine transgression during extension and a late marine regression during contraction. The formation also crops out locally in the Baolidao zone with a main zircon age peak of 467 Ma and a minor peak of 359 Ma, and suggests it formed as a marine transgression sedimentary sequence in a restricted extensional basin and followed by a marine regressive event. Two obvious zircon age peaks of 444 Ma and 280 Ma in the Solonker zone and 435 Ma and 274 Ma in Ondor Sum are retrieved from the Zhesi Formation. This suggests as a result of the gradual closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean a narrow ocean sedimentary environment with marine regressive sedimentary sequences occupied the Solonker and Ondor Sum zones during the middle Permian. A restricted ocean is suggested by the Permian strata in the Bainaimiao zone. Early Paleozoic subduction until ca. 381 Ma and renewed subduction during ca. 310–254 Ma accompanied by the opening and closure of a back-arc basin during ca. 298–269 Ma occurred in the northern accretionary zone. In contrast, the southern accretionary zone documented early Paleozoic subduction until ca. 400 Ma and a renewed subduction during ca. 298–246 Ma. The final closure of the Paleo-Asian ocean therefore lasted at least until the early Triassic and ended with the formation of the Solonker suture zone.     

Detrital zircon geochronology of the Speewah Group,Kimberley region,Western Australia: evidence for intracratonic development of the Paleoproterozoic Speewah Basin

Field observations integrated with new petrographic and sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) U–Pb age data for detrital zircons from the Paleoproterozoic Speewah Group of northern Western Australia provide evidence of depositional conditions, source of detritus, timing and evolution of the sedimentary rocks in the Speewah Basin. The Speewah Group is a 1.5 km-thick succession of poorly outcropping, predominantly siliciclastic rocks that preserve a fluviatile to marine, transgressive and regressive event. The Speewah Group unconformably overlies crystalline rocks of the Lamboo Province that were stabilised by the 1870–1850 Ma Hooper Orogeny, then accreted as the Kimberley region onto the North Australian Craton during the 1835–1810 Ma Halls Creek Orogeny. Unconformably overlying the Speewah Group is about 4 km of predominantly siliciclastic marine sedimentary rocks of the Kimberley Group in the Kimberley Basin. This study has detected a detrital zircon component within the Speewah Basin at 1814 ± 10 Ma, with a youngest zircon at 1803 ± 12 Ma (1σ) in fluviatile sandstones located beneath a volcaniclastic rock with magmatic zircons that have been dated at ca 1835 Ma. Previous studies proposed that the Speewah Basin developed as a retro-arc foreland basin during accretion of the North Australian Craton. We interpret the ca 1835 Ma zircons in the volcaniclastic rocks to be xenocrystic in origin. This new 20 million years younger maximum depositional age indicates that the Speewah Group in the Speewah Basin, similarly to the overlying Kimberley Group in the Kimberley Basin, developed in a post-orogenic setting on the North Australian Craton rather than in a syn-orogenic setting associated with the 1835–1810 Ma Halls Creek Orogeny.     

Rapid evolution from sediment to anatectic granulite in an Archean continental collision zone: the example of the Bandelierkop Formation metapelites,South Marginal Zone,Limpopo Belt,South Africa

The metamorphic history of the Southern Marginal Zone (SMZ) of the Limpopo Belt, South Africa, possibly provides insight into one of the oldest preserved continental collision zones. The SMZ consists of granitoid gneisses (the Baviaanskloof Gneiss) and subordinate, infolded metasedimentary, metamafic and meta‐ultramafic lithologies (the Bandelierkop Formation) and is regarded as the c. 2700 Ma granulite facies reworked equivalent of the Kaapvaal craton basement. The granulite facies metamorphism is proposed to have occurred in response to collision between the Kaapvaal and Zimbabwe cratons. Previous studies have proposed a wide variety of P–T loops for the granulites, with considerable discrepancy in both the shapes of the retrograde paths and the magnitude of the peak P–T conditions. To date, the form of the prograde path and the timing of the onset of metamorphism remain unknown. This study has used a range of different metasedimentary rocks from a large migmatitic quarry outcrop to better constrain the metamorphic history and the timing of metamorphism in the SMZ. Detrital zircon ages reveal that the protoliths to the metasedimentary rocks were deposited subsequent to 2733 ± 13 Ma. Peak metamorphic conditions of 852.5 ± 7.5 °C and 11.1 ± 1.3 kbar were attained at 2713 ± 8 Ma. The clockwise P–T path is characterized by heating in the sillimanite field along a P–T trajectory which approximately parallels the kyanite to sillimanite transition, followed by near‐isothermal decompression at peak temperature and near‐isobaric cooling at ~6.0 kbar. These results support several important conclusions. First, the sedimentary rocks from the Bandelierkop Formation are not the equivalent of any of the greenstone belt sedimentary successions on the Kaapvaal craton, as has been previously proposed. Rather, they post‐date the formation of the Dominion and Witwatersrand successions on the Kaapvaal craton. From the age distribution of detrital zircon, they appear to have received significant input from various origins. Consequently, at c. 2730 Ma, the Baviaanskloof Gneiss most likely acted as basement onto which the sedimentary succession represented by the Bandelierkop Formation metapelites was deposited. Second, the rocks of the SMZ underwent rapid evolution from sediment to granulite facies anatexis, with a burial rate of ~0.17 cm yr^?1. Peak metamorphism was followed by an isothermal decompression to 787.5 ± 32.5 °C and 6.7 ± 0.5 kbar and isobaric cooling to amphibolite facies conditions, below 640 °C prior to 2680 ± 6 Ma. This age for the end of the high‐grade metamorphic event is marked by the intrusion of crosscutting, undeformed pegmatites that are within error the same age as the crosscutting Matok intrusion (2686 ± 7 Ma). Collectively, the burial rate of the sedimentary rocks, the shape of the P–T path, the burial of the rocks to in excess of 30 km depth and the post‐peak metamorphic rapid decompression argue strongly that the SMZ contains sediments deposited along an active margin during lateral convergence, and that the SMZ was metamorphosed as a consequence of continental collision along the northern margin of the Kaapvaal craton at c. 2700 Ma.     

扬子西缘新元古代中期裂谷作用:来自年代学与沉积学的新证据

华南新元古代沉积盆地演化与Rodinia超大陆裂解存在紧密联系,但仍缺乏精细刻画.对扬子西缘澄江组开展了系统的碎屑锆石年代学和沉积学研究.澄江组砂岩的碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄主要为新元古代（870~780 Ma）,少数为前新元古代（2 850~1 010 Ma）,最显著的峰值为820 Ma,最年轻一组碎屑锆石206Pb/238U年龄加权平均值为804.5±5.4 Ma.结合已发表年龄数据,将澄江组沉积时限进一步限定为800~720 Ma.物源分析揭示澄江组的新元古代碎屑锆石剥蚀自邻近的新元古代岩浆岩,而前新元古代锆石可能来自于邻近新元古代岩体的剥蚀或地层的沉积再循环.扬子西缘新元古代中期沉积盆地具有由冲积扇相逐渐过渡为前扇三角洲相的沉积演化序列,最终形成了具有裂谷充填特征的“楔状地层”.这种沉积超覆演化过程在整个华南新元古代裂谷系普遍存在,指示在800 Ma左右华南全面进入裂谷盆地成熟阶段.      

Fission‐track dating of lower Palaeozoic sandstones at Tatong,North Central Victoria

Fission‐track dating has been applied for the first time to detrital mineral grains in sedimentary rocks. Unfossiliferous sandstones associated with Cambrian greenstones near Tatong, Victoria contain detrital zircon grains with an average age of 427 ± 20 m.y. This date provides a maximum age for the sandstones, so that they are younger than the Cambrian rocks, and have been tectonically juxtaposed. Radiometric dates for the eastern highlands of Victoria range from 390 to 460 m.y., and this mixed granitic‐metamorphic terrain may be the source for the zircons dated.     

The complexity of sediment recycling as revealed by common Pb isotopes in K-feldspar

Detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology has become the gold standard in evaluating source to sink relationships in sedimentary basins. However, the physical and chemical robustness of zircon, which make it such a useful mineral for provenance studies, is also a hindrance as zircon can be recycled through numerous sedimentary basins, thus obscuring the first cycle source to sink relationship. An elegant approach to addressing this potential issue is to compare the Pb isotope composition of detrital K-feldspar, a mineral which is unlikely to survive more than one erosion-transport-deposition cycle, with that of magmatic K-feldspar from potential basement source terranes. Here we present new in situ Pb isotope data on detrital K-feldspar from two Proterozoic arkosic sandstones from Western Australia, and magmatic K-feldspar grains from potential igneous source rocks, as inferred by the age and Hf isotope composition of detrital zircon grains. The data indicate that the detrital zircon and K-feldspar grains could not have been liberated from the same source rocks, and that the zircon has most likely been recycled through older sedimentary basins. These results provide a more complete understanding of apparently simple source to sink relationships in this part of Proterozoic Western Australia.     

哀牢山构造带两侧上志留统-下泥盆统碎屑锆石年代学:物源及其构造意义

哀牢山古特提斯洋的打开时限及其缝合带的具体位置对理解哀牢山古特提斯洋构造演化具有非常重要的意义。本文采用碎屑锆石年代学方法,分析了哀牢山构造带及其两侧不同时期沉积物源的特征及其变化,解译了其物源差别所指示的哀牢山古特提斯洋盆打开时限以及缝合带的构造位置。碎屑锆石年代学显示,哀牢山构造带两侧上志留统碎屑锆石都记录一个~450 Ma的最年轻的峰值和一个格林威尔期造山事件的年龄群(1100~800 Ma),以及一个2600~2400 Ma的次峰;不同于上志留统,构造带东侧下泥盆统碎屑锆石并未出现年轻的~450 Ma峰值年龄信息,西侧U-Pb年龄分布模式与上志留统一致,记录~450 Ma峰值年龄信息,而且构造带两侧下泥盆统碎屑锆石的2600~2400 Ma的峰值明显要强于上志留统。区域上发表的碎屑锆石年代学资料,也揭示相同的年龄峰值。因此,综合区域上的其他地质资料,我们认为哀牢山古特提斯洋盆的打开时限应该在晚志留世-早泥盆世,哀牢山断裂带代表了哀牢山洋盆闭合的位置。     

石榴石微量元素地球化学及其在沉积物源分析中的应用

石榴石是沉积物中常见的重矿物,其可来源于多种岩石,而且不同类型母岩中石榴石具有多样的地球化学组成,因此碎屑石榴石的地球化学分析在沉积物源研究中应用广泛。通过电子探针分析可以容易地获得单颗粒碎屑石榴石的主量元素地球化学组成,可借此探讨其母岩类型,但也存在一定的局限性,比如中酸性火成岩和部分变沉积岩来源的石榴石通常都具有高Fe、Mn的特征,不易于区分。本文系统地收集了不同岩石类型的石榴石微量元素数据,尝试利用微量元素地球化学的差异性对碎屑石榴石物源分析进行补充。最终得出以下结论:(1)石榴石的稀土元素(REE)组成与钇(Y)元素指标可区分中酸性火成岩和变沉积岩来源的碎屑石榴石;(2)基性岩(橄榄岩、辉石岩)及所对应的变基性岩石(榴辉岩)中石榴石的微量元素地球化学组成相近,但部分橄榄岩来源的石榴石在镨/钬(Pr_N/Ho_N)值和重稀土总量(ΣHREE含量)上与辉石岩和榴辉岩的有显著差别,这一特点可运用于以基性岩母岩为主的碎屑沉积物源研究中;(3)夕卡岩中的石榴石在主量元素地球化学组成上表现为高度一致的高Ca特征,而稀土元素组成具有两种典型的分配模式,岩浆型(指示富铁、氧化环境)与热液型(指示富铝、还原环境)。综上所述,石榴石微量元素地球化学可以有效地运用于沉积物源分析研究中,是其主量元素物源分析方法的重要补充。     

冀西北怀安地体高级变质表壳岩的锆石年代学研究

位于华北克拉通中部造山带中北段的怀安地体与内蒙孔兹岩带相接,出露高压麻粒岩和退变榴辉岩等多种高级变质岩,是洞悉华北克拉通古元古代构造演化历史的重要窗口。研究区变质表壳岩包括夕线石榴长英质片麻岩、石榴长英质粒状岩石以及紫苏黑云二长片麻岩。阴极发光图像特征显示研究区样品的锆石主要包括碎屑锆石和变质锆石,其中碎屑锆石具有岩浆结晶环带,而变质锆石为单颗粒或围绕着继承性碎屑锆石边部生长,内部结构均匀,Th/U比值较低。锆石LAICP-MS U-Pb定年结果与前人研究结果综合表明该区变质表壳岩石的碎屑锆石的207Pb/206Pb年龄主要集中在~2040Ma,其原岩形成时代与孔兹岩带变泥质岩石相近,均为~2.0Ga。变质锆石记录其变质时代为1957~1804Ma,结合前人对怀安地区变泥质岩和变基性岩变质作用和年代学研究结果,推测得出1.95~1.92Ga代表了峰期(高压)麻粒岩相变质时代,1.90~1.85Ga代表峰后减压阶段变质时代,而1.85~1.80Ga代表退变质晚期的时代。怀安地区变质岩石可能卷入了阴山陆块、鄂尔多斯陆块以及东部陆块间的先后碰撞造山过程,并持续较长时间(1.95~1.80Ga),最终拼贴为统一的整体。     

Neoproterozoic high-pressure/low-temperature metamorphic rocks in the Avalon terrane, southern New Brunswick, Canada

High‐P/low‐T metamorphic rocks of the Hammondvale metamorphic suite (HMS) are exposed in an area of 10 km² on the NW margin of the Caledonian (Avalon) terrane in southern New Brunswick, Canada. The HMS is in faulted contact on the SE with c. 560–550 Ma volcanic and sedimentary rocks and co‐magmatic plutonic units of the Caledonian terrane. The HMS consists of albite‐ and garnet‐porphyroblastic mica schist, with minor marble, calc‐silicate rocks and quartzite. Pressure and temperature estimates from metamorphic assemblages in the mica schist and calc‐silicate rocks using TWQ indicate that peak pressure conditions were 12.4 kbar at 430 °C. Peak temperature conditions were 580 °C at 9.0 kbar. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar muscovite ages from three samples range up to 618–615 Ma, a minimum age for high‐P/low‐T metamorphism in this unit. These ages indicate that the HMS is related to the c. 625–600 Ma subduction‐generated volcanic and plutonic units exposed to the SE in the Caledonian terrane. The ages are also similar to those obtained from detrital muscovite in a Neoproterozoic‐Cambrian sedimentary sequence in the Caledonian terrane, suggesting that the HMS was exposed by latest Neoproterozoic time and supplied detritus to the sedimentary units. The HMS is interpreted to represent a fragment of an accretionary complex, similar to the Sanbagawa Belt in Japan. It confirms the presence of a major cryptic suture between the Avalon terrane sensu stricto and the now‐adjacent Brookville terrane.